Met Police Use of Live Facial Recognition Leads to Over 1,000 Arrests
The Metropolitan Police Service has confirmed it has now made more than 1,000 arrests using Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology — with rapists, paedophiles and violent offenders among those taken off the streets.
In a landmark achievement, the Met revealed that 773 of those arrested have been charged or cautioned, including 93 registered sex offenders and over 100 suspects linked to serious violence against women and girls, such as domestic abuse, stalking and rape.
Major Policing Tool for London
The Met has led the national rollout of LFR, which scans live crowds against a watchlist of wanted individuals, with on-the-ground officers on hand to make arrests where alerts are confirmed.
In a separate case, Darren Dubarry, 50, was caught on camera in Dalston while wanted for theft. Officers found him in possession of stolen designer clothing from a nearby store. He was fined and convicted of handling stolen goods.
What is LFR?
LFR cameras scan the faces of people passing by and compare them against a live watchlist of wanted suspects or those with court-imposed restrictions, such as sex offenders. If a match is flagged, an officer reviews the footage and determines whether engagement or arrest is appropriate.
- No biometric data is stored if a person is not flagged.
- Each deployment is supported by neighbourhood officers to engage with the public and carry out enforcement.
2024-2025 Deployment Stats:
- 1,035 arrests using LFR since January 2024
- Over £400,000 saved in police time, according to internal estimates
- 21% of cases involved breaches of bail or court conditions
- Dozens of LFR deployments have been conducted across high-footfall areas including Stratford, Croydon, Dalston, and Camden
Community Engagement and Safeguards
The Met says it is committed to transparency and regularly meets with local councillors and residents to explain how the technology works, its limitations, and the data safeguards in place.
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For full details on how the Met uses Live Facial Recognition, visit: www.met.police.uk/LFR
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Have information about a wanted person?
Call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Got questions about LFR in your area?
Speak with your local police team or follow updates via Met Engage, the Met’s new neighbourhood alert system.
